The 2017 National Road Research Alliance (NRRA) Pavement Conference & Workshop was held May 23rd & 24th at the Continuing Education and Conference Center-University of Minnesota in St Paul, Minnesota, USA. The highlights of the Conference/Workshop were Keynote Speech by Matt Witczak, Professor, Emeritus-Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland. He delivered the Gene Skok Distinguished Speaker Address. And, Keynote Speech by Julie Vandanbossche, Professor-University of Pittsburgh. She delivered the Gerry Rohrbach Distinguished Speaker Address.
8 Case Studies: The eight case studies came from MnROAD alliance members from all over the country. The subjects included geotechnical testing, Finnish pavement management, joint sealants, asphalt recycling, and infrastructure as it’s affected by renewable energy. Presenters were requested to focus heavily on implementation.
Expo and Posters: During conference breaks, various NRRA associate members were available to talk about what they do, how they do it, and what happens with research out in the field. Some of the academic members presented posters and talked about their research projects.
WORKSHOP DAY 1: The preconference workshop provided an opportunity to hear updates from the five NRRA work groups—Flexible, Rigid, Preventive Maintenance, Geotechnical, and Technical Transfer. There were four workshops focusing on:
- Intelligent Compaction HMA
- SFDR, CIR, HIR Impact of Life Cycle Cost Analysis of Pavement Design/Performance
- Unbonded Concrete Overlays
- Advanced Performance Monitoring of Surface Condition
Picnic at MnROAD: The workshops were capped off with a tour and BBQ picnic at the world-famous research facility—MnROAD. The MnROAD research experts hosted and showed the various test cells and research equipment.
WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS included:
- Discussion on the Flexible, Rigid, Geotechnical, Preventative Maintenance, Technology Transfer–Ben Worel (MnDOT)
- Intelligent Compaction HMA–Holland
- Stabilized Full Depth Recycling, Cold in-Place Recycling and Hot in-Place Recycling: Impact of Life Cycle Cost
- Analysis on Pavement Design/Performance–Cross
- Unbonded Concrete Overlays–Trautman
- Advanced Performance Monitoring of Surface Condition–Saarenketo
CONFERENCE DAY 2: The Conference Objective was to provide practical information to practitioners and others interested in pavement design, construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance. The conference examined national and local trends and innovations to expand understanding of pavement challenges and solutions. Attendees included city engineers, county engineers, public works officials, street superintendents, maintenance superintendents, managers, design engineers, consulting engineers, contractors, and others interested in pavement issues.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS INCLUDED:
- Some Thoughts on Improving Pavement Research Implementation—Schwartz
- How Can We Make a Greater Impact—Vandenbossche
- Recap of Workshops–Ben Worel
- Improving our HMA Density “Rolling Density Meter”–Shongtao Dai
- Cold In-Place Recycling and RMRC (Recycled Materials Resource Center)–Barry Paye; Angela Pakes
- Benefits of the NCAT / MnROAD Partnership–Powell
- Aligning Geotechnical Testing to Pavement Design–David J. White
- PEHKO 2015-2025 Project – Testing New Technologies for Proactive Pavement Maintenance in Finland–Saarenketo
- Longitudinal Joint Sealants–Jim Trepanned
- How Properties of the Surface Affect Pavement Performance–Izevbekhai
- Idaho Transportation Department Survey Project–Maser
- Asphalt Recycling: Key Research, Best Practices and Successful Implementation–Wegman
- Cement Stabilized Base with Chipseal Surfacing–Rettner and Brinkhorst
- Preserving the Infrastructure for Renewable Energy–DeDene and Han
Concurrent Sessions— Implementation Case Histories:
- Aligning Geotechnical Testing to Pavement Design–David J. White, Ingios Geotechnic
- PEHKO 2015-2025 Project – Testing New Technologies for Proactive Pavement Maintenance in Finland–Timo Saarenketo, Roadscanners
- Longitudinal Joint Sealants–Jim Trepanier, IDOT
- How Properties of the Surface Affect Pavement Performance–Bernard Izevbekhai, MnDOT
- Idaho Transportation Department Survey Project–Ken Maser, Infrasense
- Asphalt Recycling: Key Research, Best Practices and Successful Implementation–Dan Wegman, Braun Intertec
- Cement Stabilized Base with Chipseal Surfacing– Dave Rettner and John Brunkhorst, American Engineering Testing and McLeod County Highway Department
- Preserving the Infrastructure for Renewable Energy– Christopher DeDene and Chunhua Han, American Engineering Testing
For all of the 2017 Workshop and Conference PRESENTATIONS, please go to: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/mnroad/nrra/pavementconference/pavepresent.html.
For more Workshop/Conference information, please go to: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/mnroad/nrra/pavementconference/index.html.
For a PDF of the Pre-Conference Brochure, please go to: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/mnroad/nrra/pavementconference/documents/2017Brochurelfinal.pdf.
For NRRA information and Newsletter, please go to: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/mnroad/nrra/newsletter/currentissue.html.